Dispenser device

ABSTRACT

A dispenser device includes a hollow container portion for flowable material and has an outlet means. Plunger means is slidably mounted within the container portion and spring means normally urges the plunger means toward the outlet means. A cock arm is connected to the plunger means and extends through slot means formed in a housing means. The slot means has a part extending longitudinally of the housing and a part extending laterally of the housing. A manually operated control means is provided for controlling movement of the plunger.

United States Patent 1191 Basa Jan. 1, 1974 1 DISPENSER DEVICE 1,577,929 3/1926 Oakes 222/340 4 2,642,606 6/1953 Aschenbach.. 222/327 x [76] Invenwrjz cordnera 2,652,949 9/1953 Martin 222/340 x Quezon City, Phlhppmes [22] Filed: Aug. 13, 1971 Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Appl. No.: 171,683

Related US. Application Data Assistant Examiner-Frederick R. Handren Attorney-Imirie & Smiley [5 7] ABSTRACT A dispenser device includes a hollow container portion for flowable material and has an outlet means.

12?} 11,1 .3121111111111111111111if???33332633 532 Plunger "s is 519441 mounted within the 58 Field of Search 222/326, 327, 340, tame Porno and Sprmg means normally urges plunger means toward the outlet means. A cock arm is 222/49, 239/321 connected to the plunger means and extends through [56] References Cited slot means formed in a housing means. The slot means has a part extendlng longitudinally of the housing and UNITED STATES PATENTS a part extending laterally of the housing. A manually 1,190,426 7/1916 Kromer 222/340 X operated control means is provided for controlling 2,617,560 11/1952 Pietrzak 222/340 movement fth p1unger 1,476,227 12/1923 Scott; 222/327 1,467,857 9/1923 Kircher 222/340 10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 11L .2 a l 404. 422 442 2 DISPENSER DEVICE This is a division, of application Ser. No. 37,685, filed May 15, 1970 U. S. Pat. No. 3,649,471.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The dispenser device of the present invention relates to a device for dispensing various flowable materials which may have many applications, such as in the agricultural field for dispensing liquid fertilizers and the like. Insecticides may also be dispensed with this type of apparatus during pest control operations. The dispenser device may also be utilized as a fire extinguisher. The dispenser device is further particularly adaptable as to dispensing relatively viscous materials such as the icing placed on cakes and the like whereby the dispenser device may be employed as an icing decorator device.

In the prior art, flowable materials are ordinarily dispensed from a storage tank or the like by means of compressed gas which is compressed either by manual pumping or by utilizing so-called aerosol arrangements. This type of compressed gas construction requires a number of steps in order to prepare the device for operation and the mechanisms for creating the desired air pressure are relatively complex.

The aforementioned type of known dispenser devices are also limited to use with liquids of relatively low viscosity since as the gas pressure is dissipated, the devices are not capable of adequately dispensing viscous solutions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The dispenser device of the present invention includes a hollow container portion for flowable materials which has an outlet means. A plunger means is slidably supported within the container portion and spring means normally urges the plunger means toward the outlet means. A cock arm is interconnected with the plunger means and extends through slot means formed in a surrounding housing. This slot means includes a part extending longitudinally of the housing and a part extending laterally of the housing whereby the cock arm may be moved into the laterally extending part of the slot means so as to hold the plunger means against movement toward said outlet means.

A manually operated trigger means is provided to control the movement of the plunger means, and a gauge portion is interconnected with the plunger means and extends outwardly of the housing for indicating the amount of flowable material remaining within the container portion at all times.

The dispenser device of the present invention may be readily prepared for use simply by cocking the spring means there of which can be carried out manually in a simple and efficient manner. Operation of the dispenser device is substantially fool-proof and the spring means provides sufficient energy to expell the flowable material from the device at a greater velocity than is obtainable with gas pressure discharge arrangements. The components of the dispenser device may be readily replaced when so desired and the device can be easily assembled and disassembled. The dispenser device is especially suited for dispensing a viscous material such as icing decoration for cakes and molds of any particular design may be connected with the outlet means of the dispenser device so as to provide the desired decoration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a longitudinal section through a dispenser device according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 isan end view of a nozzle for use with the dispenser device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section through a nozzle shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top perspective exploded view of the dispenser device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of a portion of the structure shown in FIG. 1, and

FIG. 6 is a top perspective exploded view of a portion of the components shown in FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF TI-IE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing, a dispenser device according to the present invention is illustrated. The dispenser device includes a hollow container portion 400 for receiving flowable material, a handle 402 being formed integral with the container portion facilitating handling thereof. The container portion includes an outlet means 404 having a bore 405 formed therethrough, a manually operable flow control valve 406 being provided for controlling the discharge of flowable material from the container portion. The outer end of discharge means 404 is threaded for receiving a suitable nozzle such as nozzle 410 illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 which is of conventional construction.

Attaching clips 414 are secured to the outer surface of container portion 400 and cooperate with attaching clips 416 secured to a base plate 418 which is in turn attached to a housing means 420 whereby the housing means and container portion may be detachably connected to one another by the attaching clips. A rubber gasket 422 is provided between the container portion and the base plate when the apparatus is in operative position as shown in FIG. 1 to provide a liquid type seal.

As seen most clearly in FIG. 4, housing means 420 is split longitudinally thereof and is provided with hinges 424 whereby the two halves of the housing means may be swung open when desired. Suitable attaching clips are provided at points diametrically opposed from the hinges for securing the two halves of the housing means together.

Slot means is formed through the housing means and includes a longitudinally extending part 430 and a laterally extending part 432 for a purpose hereinafter described. i

A disc-like plunger means 440 is slidably disposed within the interior of container portion 400 and has a relatively snug fit therewith. This plunger means is connected with a push rod 442 having a plurality of spaced recesses 444 provided along one side thereof. The push rod extends through holes provided in base plate 418 and gasket 422. As seen in FIG. 6., a cock arm 446 is connected with a hub portion 448 which is rotatable on push rod 442 and is retained against axial movement with respect thereto by a collar 450 formed on the push rod.

The outer end 454 of the push rod extends through a central hole 456 formed in a generally U shaped bracket 458. A spring engaging plate 460 is received by bracket 458 and has a hole 462 formed therethrough for receiving the end of the push rod.

A gauge portion 466 includes a reduced threaded end 468 which is threaded within a correspondingly threaded bore 470 provided in the end of the push rod whereby the gauge portion is moveable with the push rod as well as bracket 458 and spring engaging plate 460. The gauge portion extends through a central hole provided in the end wall 474 of the housing means the gauge portion having suitable indicia provided thereon for indicating the position of the plunger means within the container portion whereby the amount of flowable material remaining in the container portion may be readily determined at all times.

A compression spring 480 is disposed in surrounding relationship to the gauge portion 466 and normally biases the plunger means toward the outlet means of the container portion. The cock arm is received in the slot means formed in the housing means whereby the cock arm can be moved longitudinally of the housing means in part 430 of the slot means and then can be swung laterally into part 432 of the slot means to hold the spring under compression until it is desired to pressurize the device. The cock arm is the swung into alignment with part 430 of the slot means whereupon the spring biases the plunger means toward the outlet means of the apparatus.

As seen most clearly in FIGS. 5 and 6, the opposite ends of the spring engaging plate 460 are provided with lugs 484 which are slidably received within slots 486 formed in opposite legs 488 ofa guide rail, laterally extending portions 490 of legs 488 permitting attatchment of the guide rail to the base plate previously described. The guide rail includes a connecting portion 492 between the opposite legs 488 thereof, a central hole being provided through portion 492 for receiving the aforementioned gauge portion. it is apparent that the guide rail serves to guide movement of the spring engaging plate 460 and stabilizes operation of the apparatus.

A pistol grip type handle 500 is provided having a trigger means 502 pivotally supported at point 504, a compression spring 506 normally biasing the trigger means in one direction.

The trigger means is connected by flexible connector 510 with a detent member 512 which is normally biased by a spring 514 upwardly as seen in FIG. 16 so as to be engaged within one of the recesses 444 provided in the push rod.

It is apparent that when detent member 512 engages one of the recesses 444, the plunger means will be held against movement. When it is desired to discharge flowable material fromthe container portion, trigger 502 is operated against a force of spring 506 so as to pull the detent member downwardly against the force of spring 514 thereby freeing the push rod and the associated plunger means for movement under the influence of compression spring 480. Upon release of the trigger means, the detent member will again be biased upwardly to engage one of the recesses in the push rod so as to hold the plunger means against further movement.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characterisitcs thereof, the present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, and since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims, all changes that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims or that form their functional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents are therefore intended to be embraced by those claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A dispenser device comprising a hollow container portion for receiving flowable material and including an outlet means, plunger means moveably mounted within said container portion, spring means normally urging said plunger means toward said outlet means, a cock arm interconnected with said plunger means and rotatable in a lateral direction with respect thereto, a housing means, said housing means having slot means formed therethrough receiving said cock arm, said slot means including a part extending longitudinally of the housing means and a part extending laterally of the housing means, and control means for controlling the movement of said plunger.-

2. A device as defined in claim 1, including a push rod interconnected with said plunger, said push rod having a plurality of recesses formed therein.

3. A device as defined in claim 2, including a moveable detent member adapted to be received in said recesses in the push rod.

4. A device as defined in claim 3, including manually operable trigger means interconnected with said detent member for controlling movement of said detent memher.

5. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said container portion is detachable from said housing means, attaching means being provided on said container portion and said housing means for detachably connecting said container portion and said housing means.

6. A device as defined in claim 5, including seal means between said container portion and said housing means for providing a liquid-type seal therebetween.

7. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said plunger means is of disc-like configuration and is slidably disposed within said container portion with a relatively snug fit.

8. A device as defined in claim 1, including spring engaging means engaging said spring means, said spring engaging means having lug means extending therefrom, and guide rail means supported within said housing means and receiving said lug means for guiding movement of said spring engaging means.

9. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said cock arm is rotatable in a lateral direction with respect to the plunger means with which it is operably connected.

10. A device as defined in claim 1, including a gauge portion interconnected with said plunger means and moveable therewith, one end of said housing means having a hole receiving said gauge portion whereby a part of said gauge portion extends outwardly of said housing means through said opening, said gauge portion having indicia thereon. 

1. A dispenser device comprising a hollow container portion for receiving flowable material and including an outlet means, plunger means moveably mounted within said container portion, spring means normally urging said plunger means toward said outlet means, a cock arm interconnected with said plunger means and rotatable in a lateral direction with respect thereto, a housing means, said housing means having slot means formed therethrough receiving said cock arm, said slot means including a part extending longitudinally of the housing means and a part extending laterally of the housing means, and control means for controlling the movement of said plunger.
 2. A device as defined in claim 1, including a push rod interconnected with said plunger, said push rod having a plurality of recesses formed therein.
 3. A device as defined in claim 2, including a moveable detent member adapted to be received in said recesses in the push rod.
 4. A device as defined in claim 3, includinG manually operable trigger means interconnected with said detent member for controlling movement of said detent member.
 5. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said container portion is detachable from said housing means, attaching means being provided on said container portion and said housing means for detachably connecting said container portion and said housing means.
 6. A device as defined in claim 5, including seal means between said container portion and said housing means for providing a liquid-type seal therebetween.
 7. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said plunger means is of disc-like configuration and is slidably disposed within said container portion with a relatively snug fit.
 8. A device as defined in claim 1, including spring engaging means engaging said spring means, said spring engaging means having lug means extending therefrom, and guide rail means supported within said housing means and receiving said lug means for guiding movement of said spring engaging means.
 9. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said cock arm is rotatable in a lateral direction with respect to the plunger means with which it is operably connected.
 10. A device as defined in claim 1, including a gauge portion interconnected with said plunger means and moveable therewith, one end of said housing means having a hole receiving said gauge portion whereby a part of said gauge portion extends outwardly of said housing means through said opening, said gauge portion having indicia thereon. 